Releasable ski binding

ABSTRACT

A releasable ski binding incorporating a release plate releasably retained on the ski at each of its two ends by a respective locking element. The release plate is retained (a) in the lengthwise direction of a plug pin, (b) against upward movement by the locking elements engaging over the release plate and at least one of which locking elements is subjected to the action of a spring, and (c) against lateral pivoting or rocking movement about the plug pin by at least the spring-loaded locking element.

United States Patent [1 1 Gertsch et al.

1 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 1 RELEASABLE SKI BINDING [75] Inventors: UlrichGertsch, Matten; Ernst Gertsch, Wengen, both of Switzerland [73]Assignee: Gertsch AG, lnterlaken, Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 353,329

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 10, 1972 Switzerland 6998/72May 12, 1972 Switzerland 7029/72 [52] US. Cl. 280/ll.35 K; 280/11.35 K[51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/08 [58] Field ofSearch 280/11.35 K, 11.35 C,

280/11.35 Y,1l.35 D, 11.35 A, 11.35 E, 11.35 G,l1.35T, 11.35 H, 11.35 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.745.672 5/1956 X 2.954,2369/1960 K 3,410,568 11/1968 K 3,489,424 l/1970 Gertsch et a1 280/1 1.35 K

3.727.933 4/1973 Allsop 280/1 1.35 T 3,731,945 5/1973 Johnson 280/1 1.35C X FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 503,503 4/1971 Switzerland... 280/11.35 C 2 051.758 4/1972 Germany..... 280/1 1.35 K 1,428,930 3/1969Germany..... 280/1 1.35 T

443,089 1/1968 Switzerland.... 280/1 1.35 T

412,672 11/1966 Switzerland 280/11.35 K

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Milton L. SmithAttorney, Agent, or Firm--Werner W. Kleeman 5 7] ABSTRACT A releasableski binding incorporating a release plate releasably retained on the skiat each of its two ends by a respective locking element. The releaseplate is retained (a) in the lengthwise direction of a plug pin, (b)against upward movement by the locking elements engaging over therelease plate and at least one of which locking elements is subjected tothe action of a spring, and (0) against lateral pivoting or rockingmovement about the plug pin by at least the springloaded lockingelement.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures llll US. Patent se t.30,1975 she'etlom3,909,025

U. S. Patent Se t. 3 ,1975 Seeee 2 ee 2 3,909,025

RELEASABLE SKI BINDING BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONing-through of the ski. Such effects can impair and in fact renderquestionable the functionality of the binding. This is so because duringthroughbending of the ski the spacingbetween the anchoring means mountedto the ski for the release plate changes, yet the spacing of the countersupports operatively associated with the anchoring means remainsconstant. The bendingthrough of the ski brings about a correspondingchange in the retention force and therefore a continuous deviationthereof from its adjusted reference value.

In an attempt to overcome such effects there has become known to the artfrom Swiss Pat. No. 503,503 a ski binding wherein the heel element ofthe binding is mounted upon a carriage or slide and displaceably guidedagainst the action of compensation springs.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a releasableski binding which avoids the need for a construction of this type whileat the same time overcoming the dangers of binding fouling orcontamination and wear, that is to say, avoiding those dangers to whichthe known constructions are subject to a considerable degree.

Another object of the present invention relates to an improvedconstruction of releasable ski binding wherein the release action of thebinding can be rendered substantially independent of the bendingthroughof the ski.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the releasable binding of this development is manifested bythe features that the release plate is retained (a) in the lengthwisedirection by a plug pin, (b) for movement upwardly by the lockingelements engaging over the release plate and at least one of whichlocking elements is subjected to the action of a spring, and (c) againstlateral pivoting about the plug pin by at least the aforementionedspring-loaded locking element. 1

With this arrangement the release plate is held from BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objectsother than those set forth above, will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a releasable ski binding of theinvention incorporating a release plate mounted to the ski together withits anchoring means;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1; wherein howeverthere have also been depicted in greater detail the ski, the ski bootand further components of the safety ski binding;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a variant contruction ofreleasable ski binding; and t FIG. 4 is a side view of part of thereleasable ski binding depicted in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, with the exemplary embodiment of releasable ski binding asdepicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 there are secured to the schematicallyrepresented ski 1 the front and rear anchoring means 2 and 3respectively for the opposed ends 4a and 4b of the release plate 4. Theanchoring means 2 and 3 possess a respective substantially horizontallydirected locking pin 6 and 7 pivotably mounted for movement to all sidesin an associated housing 14 and 5 respec-. tively. Each locking pin 6and 7 is preferably subjected to the action of a suitablenon-illustrated spring, such as the spring 33 shown in FIG. 3, locatedin the associated housing 14 and 5 and thereby retained in a positionwhere it engages from above at the one and the other associated ends 4aand 4b of the release plate 4. In this way the release plate 4 is heldby the anchoring means 2 and 3 against the surface of the ski 1.

The release plate 4 which is normally fabricated from a light metalcarries at both ends slide shoes or blocks 8 and 9 formed of a suitablematerial. The slide shoe 8 possesses a flat guide track 8 and thereforedoes not provide for the associated spring-loaded locking pin 6 anylateral point of attack or engagement. On the other hand, thespring-loaded locking pin 7 engages between two entrainment members 9and 9" of its associated slide shoe or block 9. In this way the rear end4b of the release plate 4 is retained by this associated locking pin 7not only in vertical direction but also in lateral direction.Consequently, this construction serves to fix the normal position of therelease plate 4 since the same is mounted at approximately its centralregion having a bore 40 upon a plug pin l0-constituting a pivot pin forthe release plate 4. This plug pin 10, also sometimes referred to as apivot pin, retains the release plate 4 in the lengthwise direction, inother words, in that direction in which there does not exist a positiveor form-locking connection between the locking pins 6 and 7 and therelease plate 4. Further, an advantageous construction of the releasebinding for the various embodiments disclosed herein contemplates theuse of a plug pin 10, the outer surface 10a of which is configured suchthat it cooperates with the inner walls 4d of the bore 4c in such amanner that the release plate 4 is solely retained by the plug pin inlengthwise direction and if a force acts in such lengthwise orhorizontal direction of the release plate there will not be derivedtherefrom any auxiliary component, typically an upward component, whichwould tend to lift the release plate away from the surface of the ski.This can be realized, for instance, in providing a plug pin 10 having acylindrical outer surface l0a cooperating with the bore 4c likewisehaving inner cylindrical boundary walls 4 d of the plug-like receptionof such plug pin. With this arrangement it is immaterial whether one orboth anchoring means 2 and 3 move relative to the release plate owing tobendingthrough of the ski, the retaining force always remains constantand always remains set at the predetermined safety release value orfactor of the binding.

The preceding comments are also applicable to the modified constructionof releasable ski binding depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 which can beemployed, for instance, in place of the rear anchoring means 3 of thearrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The front anchoring means may be the sameas the anchoring means 2 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingto this variant construction of releasable ski binding the depictedanchoring means, here generally indicated by reference character 30,comprises a frame or base plate 35 equipped with bearing plates orbrackets 31 and 32 between which is arranged a spring 33. The frontbearing plate 31 is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis or shaft 34extending transversely with respect to the lenegthwise direction of theassociated ski 40. This front bearing plate or bracket 31 carries alocking element 37 consisting of a locking pin 36 and a roller 38mounted upon such pin. An extension 39 of pin 36 is formed as a threadedpin member or screw and is adjustably secured with the bearing plate 31.This threaded extension 39 carries an adjustment nut 41 on which bearsone end 33a of the spring 33. The roller or roll 38 is pressed fromabove against an upright web or bracket 42 arranged at the rear end 4012of the release plate 40, the upper edge of the web 42 being constructedas a guide track 43 which ascends from its central region 43a towardsboth extremities or sides 43b of such web. Further details of thisparticular type of releasable ski binding have been disclosed in ourcommonly assigned, co-pending U.S. application, Ser. No. 353,389, filedApr. 23, 1973 and entitled Releasable Ski Binding, to which referencemay be readily had and incorporated herein by reference. In any eventalso with this embodiment of releasable ski binding there does not existin the lengthwise direction of the ski any positive or form-lockingconnection between the locking element 37 and the release plate 40, sothat bendingthrough of the ski cannot have any influence upon the otherconditions or factors of the releasable ski binding. This is so not onlyfor the illustrated normal position of the release plate but rather andof course as should be apparent for both embodiments in each randomrelative position which can be assumed between the release plate and theski until complete release of the release plate from the ski.

Conversely, the central portion of the ski is not stiffened orreinforced by the binding so that there are retained the maximum skiingcharacteristics for the skis.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

l. A releasable ski binding comprising a release plate having opposedends, anchoring means incorporating a respective locking element forreleasably retaining the release plate at each opposed end on anassociated ski, plug pin means for retaining the release plate againstmovement in lengthwise direction of the ski, said plug pin meansconstituting the sole means for restraining movement of the releaseplate in the lengthwise direction of the ski while permitting upwardmovement of the release plate in a direction away from the ski, at leastone of the locking elements being subjected to the loading action of aspring, said locking elements engaging in direct contact with and overthe release plate and releasably retaining the release plate againstupward movement with respect to the ski, said locking elements engagingonly in an overlying position on the re-. lease plate such that saidlocking elements can freely move in the lengthwise direction of the skiindependently of and without being obstructed by the release plate, saidlocking elements thus failing to exert any restraining action on therelease plate against movement thereof in the lengthwise direction ofthe ski, and at least said spring-loaded locking element releasablyretaining the release plate against lateral pivoting movement about saidplug pin means, whereby during through-bending of the ski the lockingelements are capable of shifting in the lengthwise direction withrespect to the release plate.

2. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein saidspring-loaded locking element which releasably retains the release plateagainst lateral pivoting movement incorporates means mounting saidspringloaded locking element for pivotable movement against the actionof its associated spring about an axis extending substantially parallelto the transverse axis of the ski, said release plate being movable withrespect to the ski from a normal position into a release position forthe binding, means on the release plate defining a guide track having acentral section and to both sides of said central section a respectiveraised lateral track section, said spring-loaded locking element bearingon the central section of said guide track when the release plateassumes its normal position.

3. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 2, wherein saidspring-loaded locking element retains one of said release plate opposedends and the other of said locking elements retains the other of saidrelease plate opposed ends and is provided with a spring-loaded pinmovable to all sides, a horizontally extending guide track provided onthe release plate, said spring-loaded pin bearing against saidhorizontally extending guide track.

4. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein the lockingelement which releasably retains the release plate against lateralmovement comprises a pin mounted to be pivotable to all sides againstspring action, a pair of entrainment means on the release plateextending towards the sides of the release plate, said pivotably mountedpin engaging the release plate between said two entrainment means.

5. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 4, wherein saidspring-loaded locking element retains one of said release plate opposedends and the other of said locking elements retains the other of saidrelease plate opposed ends and is provided with a spring-loaded pinmovable to all sides, a horizontally extending guide track provided onthe release plate, said spring-loaded pin bearing against saidhorizontally extending guide track.

6. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein saidrelease plate is provided with a bore for receiving said plug pin means,said plug pin means and bore having cooperating surfaces configured suchthat a force acting in the lengthwise direction of said release platedoes not exert any vertical lifting component upon the release plate.

7. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 6, wherein said boremeans comprises a substantially cylindrical bore and said plug pin meanscomprises a substantially cylindrical plug pin.

1. A releasable ski binding comprising a release plate having opposedends, anchoring means incorporating a respective locking element forreleasably retaining the release plate at each opposed end on anassociated ski, plug pin means for retaining the release plate againstmovement in lengthwise direction of the ski, said plug pin meansconstituting the sole means for restraining movement of the releaseplate in the lengthwise direction of the ski while permitting upwardmovement of the release plate in a direction away from the ski, at leastone of the locking elements being subjected to the loading action of aspring, said locking elements engaging in direct Contact with and overthe release plate and releasably retaining the release plate againstupward movement with respect to the ski, said locking elements engagingonly in an overlying position on the release plate such that saidlocking elements can freely move in the lengthwise direction of the skiindependently of and without being obstructed by the release plate, saidlocking elements thus failing to exert any restraining action on therelease plate against movement thereof in the lengthwise direction ofthe ski, and at least said spring-loaded locking element releasablyretaining the release plate against lateral pivoting movement about saidplug pin means, whereby during through-bending of the ski the lockingelements are capable of shifting in the lengthwise direction withrespect to the release plate.
 2. The releasable ski binding as definedin claim 1, wherein said spring-loaded locking element which releasablyretains the release plate against lateral pivoting movement incorporatesmeans mounting said spring-loaded locking element for pivotable movementagainst the action of its associated spring about an axis extendingsubstantially parallel to the transverse axis of the ski, said releaseplate being movable with respect to the ski from a normal position intoa release position for the binding, means on the release plate defininga guide track having a central section and to both sides of said centralsection a respective raised lateral track section, said spring-loadedlocking element bearing on the central section of said guide track whenthe release plate assumes its normal position.
 3. The releasable skibinding as defined in claim 2, wherein said spring-loaded lockingelement retains one of said release plate opposed ends and the other ofsaid locking elements retains the other of said release plate opposedends and is provided with a spring-loaded pin movable to all sides, ahorizontally extending guide track provided on the release plate, saidspring-loaded pin bearing against said horizontally extending guidetrack.
 4. The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 1, wherein thelocking element which releasably retains the release plate againstlateral movement comprises a pin mounted to be pivotable to all sidesagainst spring action, a pair of entrainment means on the release plateextending towards the sides of the release plate, said pivotably mountedpin engaging the release plate between said two entrainment means. 5.The releasable ski binding as defined in claim 4, wherein saidspring-loaded locking element retains one of said release plate opposedends and the other of said locking elements retains the other of saidrelease plate opposed ends and is provided with a spring-loaded pinmovable to all sides, a horizontally extending guide track provided onthe release plate, said spring-loaded pin bearing against saidhorizontally extending guide track.
 6. The releasable ski binding asdefined in claim 1, wherein said release plate is provided with a borefor receiving said plug pin means, said plug pin means and bore havingcooperating surfaces configured such that a force acting in thelengthwise direction of said release plate does not exert any verticallifting component upon the release plate.
 7. The releasable ski bindingas defined in claim 6, wherein said bore means comprises a substantiallycylindrical bore and said plug pin means comprises a substantiallycylindrical plug pin.